Drilon to call meet on BBL Monday

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senate President Franklin Drilon will call a caucus on Monday to sound out the senators on a schedule for plenary debates and possible passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The Senate committee on local government chaired by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, is not ready to submit to the plenary its report on the BBL on Monday as Marcos had promised.

In a text message, Drilon said Sunday he would call the caucus after the roll call at 3 p.m.

Drilon said the meeting is intended to set a timetable for plenary debates on the BBL, which would establish a Bangsamoro territory to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Asked if he had received a copy of Marcos’ BBL report, Drilon replied in the negative.

He told the Inquirer that Marcos texted him to say he would not be able to submit the BBL report on Monday as scheduled.

Marcos though suggested that Drilon continue with Monday’s caucus and promised to report out the BBL “a few days later.”–Christine O. Avendaño